Guilford College Quakers claim both ODAC weekly football awards:Smith and Rascoe bring it home

FOREST, Va. – Guilford College collected both of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) weekly football awards Sunday as Daytwyn Rascoe (Pikesville, Md./McDonough) was named the top defensive player and teammate Adam Smith (Mocksville, N.C./Davie County) claimed the Offensive Player of the Week honor. The pair, both seniors and first-time award winners, played key roles in the Quakers’ 58-21 Homecoming victory over Averett University Sept. 19.

Rascoe, a 6-0, 210-pound linebacker, turned in a season- and game-high 12 tackles, eight solo and four for loss. He notched two of four Quakers’ sacks and helped Guilford earn a safety by tackling an Averett ballcarrier in the end zone. Rascoe made five second-half tackles, which helped the Quakers limit their guests to -4 total offensive yards on 19 second-half plays, including -29 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Rascoe leads Guilford and stands 14th in the ODAC with 6.7 tackles per game. He shares the league lead with 0.67 sacks per contest and is second with 1.67 tackles for loss per outing.

Smith, a 5-10, 175-pound receiver, enjoyed a record-breaking performance with 11 receptions for 195 yards, both season highs. He also matched a personal best with three touchdown grabs. Smith averaged 17.7 yards per catch in his school-record 14th career game with 100 or more receiving yards. He also set Guilford’s career standards for scoring receptions (35) and receiving yards (3,190) in the game. Smith broke the touchdown mark on a remarkable twice-tipped catch in the end zone just before halftime and caught scores of 13, 25 and 25 yards.

With 25 catches for 464 yards and seven touchdowns through three games, Smith leads the ODAC in receiving yards per game (154.7) and touchdown catches. He stands second in scoring (14.7) and receptions per game (8.3), and third in all-purpose yardage (154.7). Smith also ranks fourth among ODAC career touchdown-reception leaders.

Rascoe and Smith helped coach Chris Rusiewicz’s team move to 3-0 and climb one spot to 24th in the week’s D3football.com Top 25 Poll released Sunday. Following a bye week, Guilford visits Washington and Lee University Oct. 3 to open ODAC play.